Safety mechanism for monorail systems



Jan. 19, 1932. R ROBERTSON 1,841,454

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR MONORAIL SYSTEMS Filed- Oct. 24, 1930 INVENTOR W m- N E 5 Es Hot N. fioaznns'azv ATTORN.

Patented Jan. 19, 1932 siren s'rATss nonnnr er. aonnnrson, or rononro, ONTARIO, osnana, Assrenon TO nrrinrnn- GINEERING AND SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED, or rononro, onranro, CANADA SAFETY MECHANISM FOR rroNoRArL SYSTEMS Application filedOctober 24, 1930. Serial No. 490,966.

This invention relates to monorail Systems for handling materials, and more particularly to systems of the type inwhich a monorail trolley passes from a movable track to a fixed track or vice versa; I I

l/Vith such a construction, there is always a danger that a careless workman may sepa ratethe tracks justjbefore or while the provide a simple, inexpensive, and reliable trolley is crossing the transfer point, thus allowing the trolley to jam or fall from the tracks. Moreover there is danger of the trolley running. off the end of the track when there is no further section of track in alignment therewith. I

The main objects of the invention are to mechanism which" will secure and auto matically lock'the relatively movable track sections in alignment whenever a trolley is at or closely adjacent to the junction point and further to so construct such a mechanism that'itwill prevent a'monorail-trolley from running off the end ofits track unless a further section of track is in position to receive the trolley. v

Vfith these and other objects in view, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, theinvention resides in the combination of parts set forthin the specification and covcred-by the claims appended hereto. I

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the inventiomand in which like reference numerals indicatelike parts;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved mechanism, certain parts being broken away for clearness of illustration;

2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig.1;"

Fig. 4 lSZl section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and i 1 Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. V I

The embodimentfof the invention illustrated in the drawings comprise's'a pair of relatively movable tracks or rails 10 and 11, which are formed from ordinary rolled steel I-beams. The trolley 12 may comprise a carriage supported by" wheels 13 engaging the opposite lower flanges of the Lbeam and it is arranged to travel longitudinally of the tracks and transfer a load from one track to the other when they are in alignment. The track 10 is stationary and the track 11 is supported in any suitable manner, as by a crane (not shown), so thatit may be moved horizontally andbrought either into or out of alignment with the stationary track, as is well known in this art.

1 In order to hold the tracks firmly in accurate-alignment when the trolley is passing the junction point and yet permit them to be separated when desired, 1 preferably provide a manually operable latch mechanism.

As illustrated, this mechanism comprises a frame or bracket 14 fastened to the upper surface of the stationarytrack 10 by means of screws 1 5,and a second frame or bracket 16 fastened totheup'per surface of the movable track 11 by means of screws 17. These frames are shown flush with the ends of their: re-

spective tracks. Frame l lhas a vertically upstanding portion 19 at thee-rid thereof remote from the junction point, and a vertically upstanding portion 20 at the opposite end. Frame 16 has avertica ly upstanding portion point. A horizontal cylindrical bolt 23 is ar ranged to slide through the portions 19 and 20 of frame 14 in a direction parallel to the track 10. This bolt 23 has a roundedend 24 (Fig. 5) which normally protrudes beyond the end of the stationary track sothat it may engage a socket or opening 25 in the portion 21 when the tracks are aligned. A coiled compression spring 27 urges the bolt towards the protruding position, its movement in this directionbeing limited by a nut 28 threaded on the bolt on the opposite side of portion 19. Lugs 29 having sloping surfaces extend laterally from the frame 16 and form guide means which serve to force the bolt back as the tracks approach alignment, thus permitting the spring 27. to snap the bolt into the socket. The bolt is preferably located '21 at the end thereof adjacent to the junction whereby the bolt may be withdrawn manually when it is desired to separate the tracks.

lVit-h the construction as so far described, there is danger of the trolley running off the end of the track when the tracks are separatech and there is also danger of the bolt being withdrawn by a careless worlnnan and the tracks separated at a time when the trolley is positioned at the junction point, thus causing the trolley to jam or fall. In accordance with this invention, safety mechanism is provided which automatically avoids these disastrous possibilities. This may comprise a locking device having associated members carried by the ends of the opposed relatively movable tracks,one of which is moved to and from a locking contact with the other when the t ad; is moved laterally. Cooperating with the movable locl: member is an abutment member on the trolley which serves, when the trolley is near the junction point, to prevent movement of the locking member from a locked position.

A further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a stop carried by one track, and preferably by each track, which will lie in the path of the trolley and prevent its movement beyond the end of the track unless the latter is in proper position for transfer of the trolley. This stop preferably comprises a slidable rod, the position of which is controlled by a cam device operated by movement of the track. These two features of the invention may be combined in a simple unitary mechanism in which the cam deviceserves also as a lock when the trolley is in the path of movement of the sliding rod, whereby the cam parts, and therefore the tracks connected therewith, cannot move relatively until the rod is released.

As shown in the drawings, which illustrate the combination of these features in a single mechanism, I provide near the end of the stationary track a movable stop 32 which is automatically moved into the path when the tracks are aligned. This stop is preferably formed as a vertical rod slidable in an axial direction. In the embodiment illustrated, the rod 32 is located at the center line of the track, and extends through an opening 38 in the frame l tand an opening 3 in the I-beam 10. \Vhen the rod 32 is in the position shown in the drawings, the trolley can pass freely. If however, the rod is lowered to the position indicated by the dotted lines 36 in Fig. 1, it serves to block the path of an abutment plate 37 mounted on the trolley and so prevents further movement of the trolley towards the junction point.

In order to actuate the rod 32 automatically I utilize a suitably shaped cam surface which is arranged to move with the movable track 11. This cam surface is preferably formed by providing a slot or groove 38 in the outer face of the portion 21 on the bracket 16 carried on the movable track. The groove 38 may be shaped as an inverted V, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, a suitable cam follower being provided which is connected to the rod and guided by the groove. The preferred construction of cam follower comprises a bar or lever 40 having one end pivoted to the portion 19 by means of a pin 41, and the other end projecting sutliciently to enter the groove. At a point intermediate its length the bar lO is pivoted to the upper end of rod by means of a pin 42. A central vertical slot 44 at the top of portion serves to guide the bar 40, and the bottom of the slot determines the limit of its downward movc ment.- The bar is urged downwardly by a spring l5, which thus tends to hold the rod 3:2 in its lowermost position in the path of the abutment plate 37 on the trolley when the tracks are separated.

It will now be clear that .as the track 11 is moved into line with track 10, the cam surface forming the bottom of groove 38 will lift the bar 4.0 and the rod 32, so that the plate 37 on the trolley may pass beneath the rod. The plate 3? provides a flat horizontal surface which prevents the rod 32 from moving downwardly so long as the plate beneath it. If now a careless workman should attempt to move the track 11 while the trolley is in this position, the upper surface of the groove 38 will contact with the bar and prevent any appreciable movement.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, I provide a similar safety mechanism on the movable track. This comprises a vertical rod 47 slidable axially in an opening 48 in the frame 16 and an opening 49in the I-beam ll. The upper end of the rod is pivoted by means of a pin 51 to a horizontally extending bar or lever 52, one end of which is pivoted to an upstanding projection on the frame 16 by means of a pin The bar is urged downwardly by a spring 56 and extends through a rectangular opening 57 (Fig. l) in the portion 21. This opening guides the bar in its vertical movement and determines its lowermost position. lVhen the tracks are aligned the free end of the bar extends into an inverted V-shaped groove 59 in the outer face of the port-ion 20. This groove controls the movementof rod l? in the same wa as groove 38 controls the movcn'icut of rod 32. Bar is preferably located in a lower position than bar so that both these members may be mounted centrally of their respective tracks without causing any interference with each other.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. hen the tracks are separated, the rods 32 and 47 are held by the springs and in their lowermost positions in the paths of the abutment plate 37, effectually preventing the trolley 12 from leavingthe end of thc tracl; on

are raised by the cam action of the grooves 238 and 59 respectively,thus lifting the rods so that the trolley may pass. At the same time bolt 23 will snap into socket25 andlock the tracks together. While the trolley is passing the nnction the tra ks cannot be separated materially even though the bolt 23 be withdrawn, since plate 37 on the trolley will prevent at least oneot the stop rods from being lowered, and the bar 40 or 52 connected thereto will strike against the upper wall of 't corresponding groove as soon as the tract: ll is moved slightly out of line.

ll hile these safety features have been shown in combination with the manually operated bolt 23, yet it will be appreciated that the bolt and associated parts may be omitted, and full reliance had on the cam locking device for holding the tracks together. lt is preferred however to employ both sets of locking devices so that the tracks may beheld securely in position, whether or not the trolley is near the junction point.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A safety mechanism for a monorail sysstem having relatively movable trolley tracks comprising; a locking device to hold the tracks in alignment, a stop located near the end of one track which is movable into and out of the path of the trolley, means mounted on the other track which serves to move the stop out of the path of the trolley when the tracks are brought into alignment, and means on the trolley cooperating with the locking device to prevent movement of the tracks wnen the trolley is'nearthe track junction.

2. A safety mechanism for a monorail system having relatively movable trolley traclts comprising a stop mounted near the end of one track for a sliding movement into the path of the trolley, and means including a. cam mounted on tl other track and immovable relative thereto which serves to move the stop automatically into the path of the trolley when the tracks are separated and to move it automatically out of the path of the trolley when the traclts are aligned.

3. A safety mechanism for a monorail sysein having relatively movable trolley tracks comprising a stop mounted near the end oi one track for a vertical sliding movement into the path of the trolley, and means including a cam mounted on the other track and shaped as an inverted V whicn serves to 7 lower the ston automatically into the lath of c trolley when the tracks are separated and to raise automatically out of the path of the trolley when the tracks are aligned.

4. A safety mechanism for a monorail system having relatively movable tracks t'or I a trolley comprising a horizontally extending lever pivotally mounted on onset the tracks, a vertically slidable stop mounted adjacent to one end of the same track for movement into and out of the path of the trolley, said stop being connected to the lever,

and means including a cam mounted on the other traclr and immovable relative thereto which contacts witht-he lever and is shaped to move the stop out of the path of the trolley when the tracks are aligned and into the path of the trolley when the tracks are separated. h V l 5. A safety mechanism for a monorail system having relatively movable tracks for a tr'olleycomprising a stop mounted near the end ofone track fora vertical sliding movement into andout oztthe path of the trolley, a horizontally extending lever mounted longitudinally on said track, that end of the lever which is remote from the end of the track being pivoted to the trackabout a transverse horizontal axis, means connecting the stop to the leverrat a point intermediate the length thereof, and a cam shaped as an inverted J mounted on the end of the other track to cooperate with the lever and raise the stop out of the patlroi the trolley when the tracks are aligned and lower it into the pathof the trolley when the tracks are separated, p I

6. Asafetymechanism for a monorail system having relatively movable tracks for a trolley comprising a st-opmounted nearthe end of each track for a vertical sliding movement into and outof the path o'li the trolley, a horizontally'extending lever mounted longitudinallyon each track, that end of each lever which is remote from the end of the track being pivoted to the track about a transverse horizontal axis,ymeans connecting each stop to the corresponding lever at a point intermediate the length thereof. and a cam shaped as an inverted Vinounted on the end of each track to cooperate with thelever' on theopposite track and raise the stop out of the path of the trolley when the tracks are aligned and lower into the path of the trolley-w ien the tracks are separated. 7. A monorail system comprising a pair of relatively movable trolley tracks, a trolley arranged to travel thereon, and mechanism to lock the tracks in alignment including locking members carried by the tracks and means on the trolley cooperating therewith which serves when the trolley is near the track junctionto prevent the locking members being operated to unlock the tracks.

8. A monorail system comprising a pair of relatively movable trolley tracks, a trolley arranged to travel thereon, a locking memberdnounted on onetrack, a cooperating locking device movably mounted on the other track, and means on the trolley which cooperates with said device when the trolley is at or closely adjacent to the unotion point, to hold the locking device against movement relative to the locking member and thus prevent separation of, the tracks.

9. A monorail system comprising a pair l of relatively movable trolley tracks, a trolley ill) arranged to travel thereon which as an abutment member, a movable stop mounted at the end of one track, and a cam mounted at the end of the other track which is arranged to move the stop positively into the path of the abutment member as the tracks are separated, the abutment member being so arranged that when it is at or closely adjacent to the junction point between the tracks it will lie in the path of movement of the stop and prevent separation of the tracks.

10. A monorail system comprising a pair of relatively movable trolley tracks, a trolley arranged to travel thereon which has an abutment member, a vertically movable stop mounted at the end of one track, and a cam shaped as an inverted V mounted at the end of the other track which is arranged to lower the stop positively into the path of the abutment member as the traclzs are separated and raise the stop out of said path when the tracks are aligned, the abutment member having a surface so located that when it is at or closely adjacent to the junction point between the tracks it will lie in the path of movement of the stop and prevent the tracks being moved out of alignment.

11. A monorail system comprising a pair of relatively movable trolley tracks, a trolley arranged to travel thereon, a vertically movable stop mounted at the end of one track and arranged to be moved into the path of the trolley, a cam having a groove therein shaped as an inverted mounted at the end of the other track, a cam follower connected to the stop and arranged to enter the groove as the tracks approach alignment and lift the stop out of the path of the trolley, and an abutment member on the trolley in the path of the stop to prevent lowering of the stop when the trolley is at or closely adjacent to the junction point between the tracks and prevent suflicient movement of the follower in the groove to bring the tracks materially out of alignment.

12. A monorail system comprising a pair of relatively movable trolley tracks, a trolley arranged to travel thereon, a vertically movable stop at the end of each track which is arranged to be moved into the path of the trolley a cam having a groove therein shaped as an inverted V mounted at the end of each track, a cam follower connected to each stop and arranged to enter the groove in the cam on the other track as the tracks approach alignment, and an abutment member on the trolley arranged to lie in the path of movement of at least one of the stops when the Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this 17th day of October, 1930.

ROBERT M. ROBERTSON. 

